.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
This limited edition Ruthenium Chronomètre à Résonance is number 93 of only 99 pieces made between 2001 and 2003. This special series in platinum was produced at the end of the period when F.P. Journe was using brass movements. From 2004 onwards, Journe’s movements have famously been made from 18K gold. With the tremendous and continually growing interest in François-Paul Journe’s work, collectors have focused their attention on the early production and pre-production watches with brass movements. Consequently these watches which are an important part of F.P. Journe history have become extremely sought after and very difficult to obtain. The Chronomètre à Résonance model, so closely associated with François-Paul Journe, is particularly desirable. Furthermore, the brass movements of this edition are coated with ruthenium as are the solid 18K gold dials which are regarded as perhaps the most beautiful of all early Journe dials.
Superbly preserved, the present watch is accompanied by its original large-size paper Certificate which confirms the 40 mm. platinum case, ruthenium covered movement and 18K gold ruthenium covered dial. In addition, this watch is offered with a fitted box and product literature.
The Ruthenium Collection
Regarded as one of F.P. Journe’s most legendary and visually compelling, the collection comprises five different models, all produced during the final phase of the brass movement era. The Ruthenium Collection consists of: the Chronomètre à Résonance; Tourbillon Souverain; Octa Calendrier; Octa Chronographe and the Octa Réserve de Marche Jour et Nuit (a model that was only produced as part of the Ruthenium Collection). For the first time in any of Journe’s watches, the dials and movements of these timepieces were coated with ruthenium, an unusual metal that is part of the platinum family and has notable anti-corrosion properties. However, it was chosen largely due to its wonderfully subtle depth of colour and distinctive sheen which seems to change in tone depending on the play and strength of light. Each model has a 40 mm. diameter platinum case and was made in a limited edition of 99 pieces. In fact, the watches of the Ruthenium Collection are the only Journe watches with brass movements to have 40 mm. diameter cases, as opposed to the 38 mm. cases of other Journe brass movement watches of the period.
The Chronomètre à Résonance
Perhaps the watch that is most associated with the genius contemporary watchmaker François-Paul Journe. It is the only wristwatch in the world with a movement based on ‘resonance’, a natural physical phenomenon. Notably, it features two balances that are naturally synchronized and oscillate in resonance with each other. The negative effects of wrist and body movements are hence considerably reduced. The idea of resonance comes from the watches of the great French watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet whose work F.P. Journe greatly admires. Breguet had experimented with the theory of resonance in the early 19th century and indeed constructed three pocket watches using the system. With the development and production of the Chronomètre à Résonance, F.P. Journe became the first watchmaker to make a wristwatch constructed on the principle of resonance.
The present watch gives collectors the rare opportunity to obtain one of the final early series watches of the Chronomètre à Résonance with ruthenium plated brass movement, seen so rarely on the open market today.
Superbly preserved, the present watch is accompanied by its original large-size paper Certificate which confirms the 40 mm. platinum case, ruthenium covered movement and 18K gold ruthenium covered dial. In addition, this watch is offered with a fitted box and product literature.
The Ruthenium Collection
Regarded as one of F.P. Journe’s most legendary and visually compelling, the collection comprises five different models, all produced during the final phase of the brass movement era. The Ruthenium Collection consists of: the Chronomètre à Résonance; Tourbillon Souverain; Octa Calendrier; Octa Chronographe and the Octa Réserve de Marche Jour et Nuit (a model that was only produced as part of the Ruthenium Collection). For the first time in any of Journe’s watches, the dials and movements of these timepieces were coated with ruthenium, an unusual metal that is part of the platinum family and has notable anti-corrosion properties. However, it was chosen largely due to its wonderfully subtle depth of colour and distinctive sheen which seems to change in tone depending on the play and strength of light. Each model has a 40 mm. diameter platinum case and was made in a limited edition of 99 pieces. In fact, the watches of the Ruthenium Collection are the only Journe watches with brass movements to have 40 mm. diameter cases, as opposed to the 38 mm. cases of other Journe brass movement watches of the period.
The Chronomètre à Résonance
Perhaps the watch that is most associated with the genius contemporary watchmaker François-Paul Journe. It is the only wristwatch in the world with a movement based on ‘resonance’, a natural physical phenomenon. Notably, it features two balances that are naturally synchronized and oscillate in resonance with each other. The negative effects of wrist and body movements are hence considerably reduced. The idea of resonance comes from the watches of the great French watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet whose work F.P. Journe greatly admires. Breguet had experimented with the theory of resonance in the early 19th century and indeed constructed three pocket watches using the system. With the development and production of the Chronomètre à Résonance, F.P. Journe became the first watchmaker to make a wristwatch constructed on the principle of resonance.
The present watch gives collectors the rare opportunity to obtain one of the final early series watches of the Chronomètre à Résonance with ruthenium plated brass movement, seen so rarely on the open market today.